Braiding machine



y 1 I w. E. (200K 1,757,794

BRAIDING' MACHINE Original Filed Fl a. 9) 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 QMK .WTOR

w. E. COOK BRAIDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original med Feb 9'. 1926 ea I' III v May 6,1930. U OOK 1,757,794

v BRAIDING MACHINE I Original Filed Feb 9. 19 26 5 Sheets-Sheet '5 5 Iv I lNVENj'OR 'A ATTORNEY,

-' ,pwing to the frequent breakage of parts, and

Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTOOFFICE:

WILLIAM E. COOK, OF NEW YORK, N. YL, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY 'BRAIDINe MACHINE Application filed February 9, 1926, Serial No. 87,033. Renewed October 1, 1929.

My invention relates to braiding machines, and more partlcularly to the, actuating-mechanism for the carriers.

' In braiding machines it has long been the practice to impart a sinuous movement to the bobbin carriers by means of entrained gears having diametrically, right angularly, ex-

" tending slots engaging a stud upon the carrier and impartlng movement thereto, the trend of movement of the carrier, however,

being determined by sinuous slots formed in the top plate of the machine and a web upon the carriers having a sliding fit therein.

In such machines when operating at even low speeds, the wear on the parts of the machine, particularly the walls of the slots formed in the top plate and the :web, is very great, and when it is attempted to operate such machines at high speeds, the rate of wear is so much increased that the frequent shutting down of machines is necessary in order to effect repairs resulting from this wear. As a consequence, various modifications, in the type of machines above referred to, have been proposed in order to permit the actuation of such machines at higher speeds,

but experience has demonstrated that such high speed machines require constant attention to keep them in operating condition,

excessive wear both of thetop plate of the machines and of the various carriers.

With the above conditions in mind, my present invention contemplates a braiding machine in which the slotted top plate is 'entirely dispensed with, and in which the various carriers will be caused to follow a sinuous path without frictional engagement with other parts of the machine in a degree which will cause material wear of parts. The carriersof a machine embodying the invention,

a are physically transported or conveyed -t.hroughout their entire course of movement by a sequence of co-operating rotatable members carrying mechanisms by which the carriers receive a timely transfer from one of said members to the adjoining member to cause the carrlers to follow the desired smuous or in and out movement in relation to other carrlers being slmllarly transported by said members, By the use of with relation to the members transporting same or causing sinuous'movement thereof,

is avoided fsothat the sole limitation upon ing member, without any material wear on I partsor without likelihood of the breakage of parts due to such high speeds.

Furthermore a machine in which there is bodily transportation of the carriers as compared with a sliding movement thereof in relation to a top plate, the carriers will have a steady uniform rate of travel, and will notbel subjected to likelihood of chattering because of. looseness in co-operating parts, which conditions will contribute to a smooth running of the machine and its operation at high speeds.

"The transfer mechanisms are so constructc'l and actuated as to permit any of the rotatable members to deliver carriers to anadjacent member at one point of the cycle of said -member, and to receive a carrier from said adjacent member at another part of the cycle, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that this transfer is efi'ected'without any variation in the speed of the rotatable members, and without any material jars or impacts between the members and the carriers.

Said transfer mechanisms are, furthermore,

so constructed and-actuated as to avoid the saidrotatable members Without the assist-- but in the; opposite direction, such members and such transfer -mechan1sms, movement of the carriers I possibility of the opera- 7 The invention consists ing'machine embodying therein a plurality bf. rotatable members each having about'the perimeter thereof recesses, the forward andance of guiding meansjfor preventing move" ment'of the carriers except with'the-rotatable members. 1

rear walls of which are adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively, means whereby rotary movement is imparted to said,

members respectively, a plurality of transfer mechanisms carried by each of said mem-. bers and adapted to co-operate with carriersbeing transported by-said members, adjacent the forward and rear walls of said recesses res'pectively,

walls of said recesses respectively are successively actuated to permit movement of a carrier from one of said members to the adjacent member, and said carriers are bodily transported by means of said" members and 'arecaused to follow a sinuous course; and

in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particular- 1y pointed out-in the claims hereto appended.

' Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a circular braiding I machine embodying the invention, three only.

of the rotating members, however, being shown in detail, the remainder of said members being merely conventionally shown;

Fig. 2 is a plan view upon a slightly enlarged scale of one of the rotatable members and the transfer mechanism carried thereby Fig. 3 a side View thereof;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3, showing the setting of one of the actuating cams; and

Fig.5 is a section on the line 5-5 ofFig.

showing the setting of the other cam.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views. i

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, I have illustrated merely those portions of the machinev which co-opjerate in transporting carriers, and in transferring them from onerotary. member'to an adjacent member, and have not illustrated any particular mechanism by which power is transmitted to the rotary members beyond a' fragmentary portion of a gear carried by one of said rotary members. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have shown. in detail three adjacent rotary members and their appurtenances, circularly arranged as required in a tubular braiding machine, this type of; machine exemv plifying one broad field of utility of the invention. The remaining rotary members and their appu tenances are merely conventionally indicate it being unnecessary to an understanding'of\the invention to duplicate a detailed showing of all of these members. Sufprimarily in a braid-- and will describe one of. sai and its appurtenances only, since the conand meanswhereby' said transfer mechanisms adjacent the forward and rear fice it to say that all of the rotary members distant from a common center with the peripheries of the various members in close juxtaposition to each other without engaging relation. 1 y

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, Ihave indicated the three rotary members shown in de ail, by A, B and C, rotary members struction of each-member is a duplicate of every other member.- The corresponding parts of each member and its appurtenances will be indicated by similar reference letters as to those members operative in effecting the transfer of the'carriers from one rotary member to the adjacent member.

During the operation of a machine each 'rotary member will, during each cycle of operations thereof, receive and transport four carriers, two of which will have movement outwardly of the center 'of the machine and two of which will have movement inwardly of the center of the machine, the movements out-'- adapted to receive carriers from a rotary member B positioned at one side of the member A, and to transport them toward and deliver them to the rotar member C positionedupon the other side thereof. The other two pockets a and 0; upon the member A are adapted to receive carfiers from the adjacent member 0 and deliver them to the adj acent member B. Henceieach pocket a to a is required in the operation of the machine to receive a carrier from orie adjacent rotary member B-or C, and transport it toward and deliver it to the other adjacent member 0 or B, there being no movement of the carrier in relation to the rotary member'A except that incidental to its transfer from one member to an adjacent-member.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the diska is provided with a transfer mechanism associated with each of the so constructed and actuated as to ensure the transfer of a carrier from an adjacent rotary I member to said pocket, the transportation of said carrier by said disk toward the other adjacent rotary member and the transfer of the carrier to said other and last named member. Each of the disks a having four pockets, there will be associated with each disk four transfer mechanisms, each of which however,

embodied in the machine have their axes equi-- n 0 n pockets (1', a a and 61.,Wh10h mechanlsm 1s a will be substantially identical with every other, but so mounted as to avoid'interferare actuated to-cause a carrier to engaged thereby or disengaged itheref-rom according to whether a rotary member is required to receive a carrier from another such member,

' or to permit a carrier to pass therefrom to another such Inember. Said actuating means is so constructed and arranged a-transfer mechanism will at all times during the-transportation of a carrier from its point of receipt by a member, to the point where it is delivered to another member, be caused to positively engage the carrier'and hold it firmly imposition upon the'rotary member.

Each of the mechanisms above referred to, in the form of the invention shown, comprises a pair of jaws pivotally mounted with rela.

tion to and rotatable with, the disk (1.

The jaws associated with the pockets are designated by the reference letters 6 and 0;.

those associated with the pocket d by the reference letters (1 and e; those associated with the pocket a ,.by thev reference letters and g, and those associated with the pocket at, by the reference letters It and i.

The. various aws are privotally mountedat b, a, d, e, f, g, h and 2" respectively upon a plate j supported from and connected with the disk at by the studs Zr, so as to have rotaryr movement with said disk, and cause the various jaws to have such movement.

The disk (1 and plate j are idly mounted upon a bearing stud m.- Rotary movement is imparted to said disk and said plate by means of a gear n carried by the-shaft of the disk at, said gearbeing entrained with similar gears carried by the other rotary members of the machine, so that adjacent members are rotated in opposite directions, thus causingthe sinuous movement of the carriers necessary to a braiding machine.

The jaw b has a hooked end 6 extended be yond the periphery of the disk a, adjacent and adapted to project across the forward end of the pocket a. The jaw c has a similar hooked end 0 projected beyond the perimeter of the disk and extending toward and adapted to project across the'rear wall of the pocket. The jaws d and e are provided with similar hooked ends (1 and e similarly positioned with relation to the forward and rear walls of the pocket 41*, the jaws f and g with similar hooked ends and 9 having the same rela tion with the forward and rear walls of the pocket a and the remaining jaws h and i th with hooked ends 1& and'ii similarly positioned in-relation to the disk and the have heels 6 0 ,0!

forward and rear walls of the pocket a; i The jaws b, c, d,e, f, g h and '11 respectively e 9 h? and 2' said ment or disengagement of the v heels respectively being provided witha member such as the anti-friction rollers b", 0 03%, e,

f, g, h andfi" adapted to be actedupon by a cam or cams for imparting a timely engage- -tion to a carrier.

jaws with rela Since a disengagement of jaws upon one" rotary member with a carrier must be effected substantially simultaneously with the engagement of these jaws mustbesuchtha't those jaws which thus operate substantially simultaneously will have movement in parallel planes at least as to those which engage the carrier. I j

In the form ofthe invention shown, the

portions thereof actuating means for .the various transfer mechanisms of each-rotary member, comprises two cams 0 and 77, each of which is fixedly secured'to the bearingstud m so that-the transfer mechanisms have rotary movement with the relation to said cams. These cams are concentric with the rotary member, and f the rise andfall of each is so set as to be 0perative upon the jaws to be' actuated thereby -to open said jaws when a carrier is to be re-' ceived or to be delivered, and to' close said jaws after a carrier has been received, and maintain them closed while a carrier is'being transported in the pocket adjacent said jaws. 4 The cam 0 has its groove presented downwardly and co-operates with the members 0 of the .jaws b and c, and with the members f -g of the diametrically opposite jaws f and'g. The beginning of the fall 0 of'the earn. 0, used for .closing said-jaws is: positioned toward the adjacent rotary member B and slightly in advance of a line connecting the axes of the members A and B. The beginning of the rise 0 of said cam 0, used for' opening the jaws,- is positioned towards the adjacent rotary member C and in advance of a line connecting the axes of the members A and C.

The cam 72 has its groove presented upward- I ly, and co-operates with the members d e of the jaws d and e, and with the members -4 ofthe diametrically opposite jaws h and'z'. The rise p of the cam 37 1s substantially below the fa'll'o and the fall p is sub stantially belowthe rise 0 The cams 0 and p are positioned above and belowthe plate 7' and spaced therefrom sufficiently to aiford clearance for themovement of the jaws b, c, f and 9 below said plate and e cam 0, and for the movement of the jaws d, e, 71, and i between-said plate and the cam 12. This arrangement not only permitsthe necessary variance in the timing of v the actuation of two diametrically opposite pairs of jaws with relation to the other two diametrically opposite pairs. of jaws, but also the positioning-of said jaws upon different planes to avoid interference or collision with cwPeming 1' s ma a jacent ta y Inemb'er.-

It W111 be readily understood .thatjfi-r the.

jaws bc and f-g of the member A are upon an upper plane, that thejaws f-f-g and b.c upon each of the adjacent members B and C must be upon a lower plane, and that this alternation of the positions of the co-op- ."erating jaws upon adjacent rotary members must follow throughout the entire sequence of such members in the machine. This merely requires a-reversal of the cams 0 and .p -in alternate rotary members, and a proper settingofthe cams and the rotary members when assembling the machine.

The carriers shown at D, E and F in the drawings, are of the usual construction,

- modified however, so as to be capable of use i with rotary members A. B and C constructed as described. They each have theusualupper and lower plates gg, and the usual web the pockets a, a a and a being so formed as to receive these webs. The usual bottom stud is not used, however. The web g is drilled,however, at the opposite ends, and has 'set therein sockets 7- opening upwardly of the upper plate 9 and adapted to receive ,rods 8 of a'length to bevengaged by jaw's positioned above or below the plate j. The rods 3 are removable from the sockets to facilitatethe mounting of a carrier in, or

. its removal from, the machine, since as will to escape from their engaging relation with some rotatable member and with some trans fer mechanism.

The operation of the herein described braiding machine is substantially as follows Before starting a run of the machine the various carriers D, E, F, etc., are mounted in relation to the various disks a, ,the upper and .lower flanges g-g of the carriers straddling I I th g 0f the k d theweb 9 entering l lows under the control of the sequence of rotary members, the carriers moving outwardly of the stud m, and the carriers movthe various pockets a, a a or a*, as the casemay be. In a machinehaving twelve I disks a, twenty-four carriers are required.

' In mounting the carriers the rods 8 are removed from the sockets a" and each carrier is positioned so that, as these'rods are restored to said sockets, they will be in engaging'relation with the jaws carried by the 4 disk co-operating with the particular pocket receiving the carrier -When all of the carriers are in position and the threads or cords properly secured in relation to the object upon which the braid is to be formed, power may-be applied to the machine, and thereafter thefunctioning of the machinewill be entirely automatic.

It is to be noted that when the rods 8 are once positioned in the sockets I the carrier carrying said rods 1sthereafter always under the control of some rotatable member and the jaws carried thereby, so that there isQn'o likelihood of the accidental escape, or displacement, of any carrier irrespective of the 'speedat which the machine is operating.

When describing the detailed operation ofthe machine, reference will be had only to the functioning of onerotary member with relation to the rotary members upon op 0- site sides thereof, it being understood t at "the operationthusdescribed is being simultaneously repeated with relation to each of said members as. to' the members upon 0pposite sides thereof.- In this operation each pocket'of each'rotary member is required to receive a Icarrier from one adjacent member and transport it in'a circular .path toward or from the axisof the stud m and deliver it to the other adjacent rotary member. One set of diametrically opposite pairs of jaws receivesa carrier from one adjacent'rotary member, moves it outwardly of the bearing stud m and delivers it to the other adjacent rotary member, while' the other set of diametrically opposite pairs of jaws receives carriers from the. rotary. member to which carriers are delivered by the other diametrically opposite set of jaws, and transports them inwardly of-the axis of the stud m and other "'set of jaws receives carriers. By way of example, referring to the rotary member cessa always receive carriers from the memdelivers themto the member from which the be'r B and conveyishem'outwardly of the axis of the stud m andij deliver them to the member C, while the jaws d-e adjacent the recess a and the jaws adjacent the recess a always receive carriers from the member C and transport them inwardly or toward the axis of the stud m and deliver them to the member D. As a consequence, the carriers transported by each rotary member alternately travel upon opposite 'sides of the center line of the sinuous path which it'folm inwardly of h x of said stud having shown are {such as exist when the circular ro 'tatable member A has just received acarrier D from the adjacent member B and is trans? 13o ferring or delivering another carrier-F to the adjacent member C, and the third carrier E is about midway-in its course from the memout of engaging relation with said carrier and the jaw 9 being still in engaging relation therewith but about to' become disenn l on gaged therefrom with a slight continuing rotary movement of the member A. The bearings Z)*0 of the jaws b and 0 are engaged wit-h the fall of the cam 0, which fall extends for a suflicient distance to ensure the continued engagement of said jaws with the carrier until the carrier is in a position to be trans ferred to the member 0 about 180. The rollers ILL-4:4 are engaged with the fall of the cam 1), thus holding the jaws h and z in engaging relation with the rods 8 of the car- -rier E, and thus locking said carrier with relation to the disk a. The roller f of the jaw, f is'engaged with the rise of the cam 0, thus holding this jaw in a positionout of engaging relation with the carrier E, while the roller 1* of the jaw g is-engaged with the fall of the cam 0 and just about topass to the rise of this cam, thus holding the jaw in engaging relation with a rod 8 of the carrier F. The rollers (Z and e are engaged with the rise of i the cam p and are thus maintained in the open position, the recess or pocket (1 having no carrier positioned therein.

With the continued rotation of the disk 0. the jaws b and 0 will be held in the closed position by the fall of the cam 0 until the forward jaw b is in a position substantially on a line connecting the axes of the members A and C. As this jaw approaches this position, the roller 6 will engage the rise of the cam, whereupon this jaw will be moved out of engaging relation with the carrier D or the rod thereon with which it cooperates- This will occur when the forward end of the pocket It is closest to the forward end of a co-operating pocket 8 upon the member C, the jaw associated with which latter pocket will be, at this point, in its open position. As the jaw Z) passes this center line between the members A and C,.it will be disengaged from the carrier D and the jaw 7 will be engaged with said carrier, these jaws lapping each other as shown. Consequently with the continued rotation of both of said members A and C, the carrier D will be caused tofollow the member C as the curved surfaces of the two disks a diverge after leaving this center line. The same operation occurs as the jaw c and the corresponding jaw g approach thiscenter line. The rise of the cam 0 will hold the jaws Z) and c in the open position until these jaws approach the center line with relation to the members A and B.

'The'quantity-of circular movement of the .jaws b and c from the time of the delivery of the carrier D thereto from the member B to the time of the deliveryof said carrier thereby tothe member C, is approximately 180 of the arc of movement of'the disk a. With the parts positioned asshown in Fig. 2, following about 90 of this movement, the pock et a? will approach the pocket a of the member B andthe jaws'h and i will be opened by the rise of the cam 0 in the same manner as the jaws and c are actuated as above decribed, the jaws (Z and e adjacent thepocket a of the member B being closed similarly to the jaws f and g of the member 0 to ensure that the carrier E will follow the disk a of. the member B. Substantially simultaneously with the transfer of the carrier E from the member A to the member 13, a carrier will be transferred from the member C to thepocket a of the member A, the fall of the cam 0 causing the closing of the jaws d and e upon said carrier, the jaws upon the member C corresponding with the jaws h and 2' being open to permit this transfer.

Following the transfer of the carrier F from the member A to the member C, the jaws f and 7 will be held in their open position by the rise of thecam 0. until. the fall of this cam causes the actuation of these jaws adjacent the member B-when the pocket at required to receive a carrier from said memier B.

I have referred to a movement of approximately 180 and approximately It will be understood, however, that with a circular arrangement of rotary members as in a tubular braiding machine, this amount of feeding movement is merely approximate since some variation therefrom must occur by reason of this circular arrangement. This condition must also be takeninto account in the laying out and setting of the cams 0 and p,- the setting of the beginning of the rise and fall thereof as stated being determined by the center line between the axes of adjacent members rather than anv diameter of themember co-operating therewith, will substantially";

simultaneously receive and deliver a carrier, and that the other diametrically opposite pockets .Jid their associated jaws\will deliver and receive a carrier, during each. rotation of. the disk of said rotary member. It

will also appear that between the receipt of v a carrier by a member and its delivery to an adjacent member, said member will have-- movement of about 180. All of the carriers received from one adjacent member will travel in one direction and either toward or away from the axis about which the rotary members are grouped, while all of the carriers received from the other adjacent rotary member will travel in the Opposite direction, and either away from or toward said axis. Since su'cceedingpockets will receive carriers from different adjacent members, it .is apparent that these carriers will be alternately moved in opposite directions and will cross each other so as to secure'the desired braid-- ing action, this crossing'occurring both cir: cumferentially and radially of the axis about which the rotary members are grouped.

By reason of the rotary movement of the various members A, B,'(/ and other similar members, there is no impact of the carriers with the plates a during thetransfer operation, the forward jaw associated with each pocket causing the deflection'of the carrier from its direction of movement with the member by which it is being delivered, or 'permitting such deflection, and the rearward wall or the rear shoulder, of the pocket engaging the web of the carrier, ensuring the continned movement of the "carrier notwithstanding this deflection of-its forward end until this rear shoulder is at its point 0 closest approach to the rear shoulder of the.

pocket which is receiving the carrier. Hence 1 the transfer operation is secured without any elimination of any substantial impacts.

The hooked ends 6 0 d ,c F, 9 ,713 and i appreciable-radial action of the carrier with relation to either rotary member. The rods 8 are of a diameter-to project beyond the pen imeter of the disk at to an extent to project 4 into the pocket of the disk of an\adjacentrotarymember at the point of transfer which will facilitate the ease of" transfer and the are so formed as to be positioned with relation to the rods 8 of different carriers, to prevent any outward movement thereof from centrifugal force, thus confiinin the carriers within their respective pockets and ensuring gheir rotation as a unit with the rotary mem- The onl friction in the operation of the device is t at incidental to the mounting of the rotary members, the slight turning action of the various jaws upon their pivots, that between the various rollers and their cooperating cams, between the various jaws and the rods 8 and'betweenthe plates .gg' and the disk (1, which aggregate friction, is very slight and is a factor having no influence in not to be appreciable.

.operatin the machine at hi h speed. In

fact, the amount of wear in the operation bf themachine, even after .long continued use even at very high speeds, will be so small as The conditions of transfer and the manner of transporting the carriers are such as to develop very little noise in .the operation of the machine.

The particular design and construction of parts shown in theaccompanying drawings is such as to permit the utilizatiom-with slight modificaton, of carriers now in use, and this design is subject to wide variation in adaptingthe invention to machines using different constructions of carriers or different designs of braiding machines. I

By't'he use of the rotary'members' the carriers may be conveyedfthrough their sinuous course with substantially no rubbing contact between same and other parts of the machine,

and each carrier will be'rigidly supported in its movement in a manner to ensure its travel at a uniformrate of speed without material vibration. These conditions permit the operation of the machine at much higher speeds than have heretofore been possible, contribute toward a'smooth runnin of the threads from the bobbin, and avoi poses o repair.

The absence of'springs in the construction of the rotary members and their appurtenances ensures a positive actuation of the transfer mechanisms.

Having described the Letters Patent, is

1; A braiding machine embodying therein a pluralit of rotatable memberseach having aboutthe "perimeter thereof recesses, the for ward and rear walls of which are adapted to receive and eng ge a carrier respectively, means-whereby ro ary movement isimpartconditions in the machine which will result in neccesit' for frequent stoppages for pur-' invention, what I claim as new anddesirefto have protected by ed to said members'mespectively, a plurality oftransfer mechanisms carried by each of j said members adjacent the forward' and rear walls of said recesses respectivelyand adapted to co-operate With carriersbeing transported by said members, and means whereby said transfer mechanisms adjacent the forward and the fear walls of said recesses re-' spectively are successively actuated to cause movement ofa carrier fromone of said mem bers to the adjacent member, and said carriers are bodily transported by means of said members and are caused ,tp follow a sinuous course.

2. A braiding machine embodying therein a plurality of rotatable members each having about the perimeterthreof recesses, the forward and rearmllsf which are adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively,

tothe other adjacent rotary member and simultaneously engage them with said carrier during its transportation by said member, and means operatlve upon the mechanisms of the other set-to successively engage the mechanisms of'said other set with a carrier to bea plurality of rotatable members-each having about the perimeter thereof recesses, the forward and rear walls of which are adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively, means whereby rotary movement is imparted to said members respectively a plurality of transfer mechanisms carried by each of said members adjacent the forward and rear walls of said recesses respectively and adapted to co-operate with carriers being transported by said 'members, means carried by each of said transfer mechanisms preventing radial movement of the carriers with relation to said rotatable member, and means whereby said transfer mechanisms adjacent the forward and the rear walls of said recesses respectively aresuccessively actuated to permit movement of a carrier from-one of said members to t the adjacent member, and said carriers are bodily transported by means of said members and are caused to follow a sinuous course.

4. A braiding machine embodying therein a plurality of rotatable members each having about the perimeter thereof recesses, the forward and rear walls of which are adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively,

means whereby rotary movement is imparted to said members respectively, two sets of diametrically opposite'transfer mechanisms carried by each of said rotatable members adja cent the forward and rear walls of said recesses respectively, means carried by each of said transfer mechanisms preventing radial movement of the carriers with relation to said rotatable member, means operative to successively engage the mechanisms of one set with a carrierto be transferredfrom one adjacent rotary member and disengage them fronitlie carrier when it'is to be transferred to the other adjacent rotary member and'simultaneously engage them with said carrier during its transportation by said member, and means operative upon the mechanisms ofthe other set to successively engage the mechanisms of saidother set with a carrier to be t ansferred from saidlast named adjacent rotary member and disengage them from said carrier to permit its transfer to said. first named adjacent rotary member and simultaneously engagethe carrier while it is being transported'from the point of its receipt to the "point of its de1ivery,'whereby alternate carriers/are transported in sinuous paths in opposite directions. a l

5. A braiding machine embodyingttherein a'plurality of rotatable memberseach having a plurality of pockets about the periphery thereof the forward and rear walls of which a'reradapted'to receive and engage a carrier respectively, jaws pivotally mounted upon said rotatable member adjacent the forward and rear walls of each of saidpockets respectively, and means operative upon said jaws to successively impart opening movement thereto and permit the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member during a partof'each rotation thereof, or from said member during another part of each rotation thereof, and to successively close them during the transfer of a carrier to the rotatable member and hold them closed until .the carrier is delivered to an adjacent member, whereby carriers are bodily transported by said rotatable members and-are caused to follow a sinuous course.

6. A braiding machine embodyingtherein a plurality of rotatable members each having a plurality'of pockets about the periphery thereof the forward and rear walls of which are adapted to receive and engage a'carrier respectively, jaws pivotally mounted upon said rotatable member adjacent the forward and rear walls of each of said pockets respectively, hooked ends. upon said jaws where-' by movement of the carriers engaged thereby radially of the rotatable member is prevented, and means operative upon said jaws to successively impart opening movement thereto and permit the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member during a part of each rotation thereof, or from said member during another part of each rotation thereof, and to successively close them during the; transfer of a carrier to the rotatable member and hold them closed until the carrier is delivered to an adjacent member, whereby carriers are bodily transported by said rotatable members'and are caused to follow a sinuous course.

7. A braidingmachine-embodying therein a plurality of rotatable members each having a plurality of pockets about the periphery thereof the forward and rear walls of which are adaptedto receive a ndrengage a carrier respectively, jaws *pivotally mounted upon said rotatable member adjacent the forward and rear walls of each of said pockets, said jaws being arranged in two sets of diametrically opposite pairs, a cam operative 'upon the jaws ofone set, the rise andfall of I which are so positioned as to successively open the aws of that set and permit the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member during a part of each rotation thereof, and from said member during another part of each rotation thereof, and to successlvely close the aws of eachlset during .the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member and hold them closed until the carrier is to be delivered to an adjacent member, and a second cam operative upon the jaws of'the other set, the rise and fall of which are so positioned as to successively open the.

jaws of said set-and permit the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member during a part of each rotation thereof and from said mem-' in her during another. part of each rotation thereof, and to successively close them during the transfer of a carrier to said member and hold them closed until the carrier is delivered to an adjacent member, said cams being so set with relation to each other that succeeding carriers are alternately received and delivered with relation to each adjacent rotatable member, whereby alternate carriers are bodily transported by each of said rotatable 5, 5 members inbpposite directions and inwardly [and outwardly with relation to each other.

8. A braiding machine embodying therein a plurality of rotatable members each having a, plurality of pockets about the periphery 23 thereof the forward and rear walls of whichare'adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively, jaws pivotally mounted upon said rotatable member adjacent the forward Y and rear walls. of each of said pockets, said go" jaws being arranged in two sets of dia- {metrically oppositepairs,the jaws of one set being arranged in a different plane from the jaws in another set and from the jaws upon adjacent rotatable. members co operating isitherewith; a camloperative upon the jaws .of one set, the rise and fall of which are so positioned as to successively open the jaws of v that set and permit the transfer of'a carrier to I a. rotatable member during apart of each ro'- g tatio'n thereof, and from said member during another part of each rotation thereof, and to successively close the jaws of each set during thetransfer of a carrier to a rotatable member and hold them closed until the carrier is to be delivered to an adjacent member, and a second cam operative upon the jaws of the other i set; therise and fall of which are so positioned as tosuccessively open the jaws of said set and permit the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member during a part of each rotation the'reofand from said member'during another part of each rotation thereof,'and to successively close themduring the transfer Inf a'carrier to said member and hold them closed until the carrieris delivered to an adaplurality of ypockets about the periphery thereof the ftrwa-rd and rear walls of which are: adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively, jaws pivotally mounted upon said rotatable member adjacent the forward and rear walls of each of said pockets,

a heel upon each of said jaws, a bearing carried by each of said heels, said jaws being. arranged in two sets of diametrically oppos1te pairs, a camhaving a groove therein cooperating, with" the bearings upon the heels l of the jaws of one set, the rise .and fall of which cam are so positioned as to successively open the jaws of that setand permit the transfer of a, carrier to a rotatable member during a part of each rotation thereof, and, from said member during another part of each rotation thereof, and, to successively close the jaws of each set during the transfer of a car-. rier to a rotatable member, and. hold them closed until the carrier is to'be delivered to an adjacent member,- and a second cam having a groove therein co-operating with the bearings upon the heels of the jaws of the other'set, the rise'and fall of which are so positioned as to successively open the jaws of said set and per mit the transfer of a carrier to a'rotatable member during a part of each rotation thereof and from said member during another part i of each rotation thereof, andito successively close them during the transfer of a carrier to said member and hold them closed untilthe carrier is delivered to an adjacent member,

said cams being so set with relation to each other that succeeding carriers are alternately received and delivered with relation to each adjacent rotatable member, wh reby alter of said rotatable members in opposite directions and inwardly and outwardly with relation to each other. j

10. A braiding machine embodying therein a plurality of rotatable members each having a plurality of pockets about the periphery thereof the forward and rear walls of which are'adapted to receive and engage a carrier'respectively, two sets of diametrically opposite pairs of jaws positioned adjacent the forward and rear wallsof'said pockets, the jaws of one set being pivotally mounted at one side of said plate and the jaws of the other set being pivotally mounted at the opposite side of said plate, whereby'the jaws nate carriers are bodily transpor ed by each of one set'are arranged/(in a different plane from the jaws of the other set, and from the jaws upon adjacent rotatable member 00- operating therewith, a cam operative upon the jaws of one set, the rise and fall of which are so positioned as to successively open the jaws of that set and permit the transfer of a carrier to' a rotatable member during a part of each rotation thereof, and from said mem- Jber'during another partof each rotation thereof, and to successively close the jaws of each set during the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member and hold them closed until the carrier is to be delivered to an adjafall of which are so positioned as to successively open the jaws of said set and permit the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member during apart of each rotation thereof and from said-member during another part of each rotation thereof, and to successively close them during the transfer of a carrier to said.

member and holdthem closed until the carrier is delivered to an adjacent member, said cams being so set with relation to each other that succeeding carriers are alternately received and delivered with relation to each adjacent rotatable member,whereby alternate carriers are bodily transported by each of said rotatable members in opposite directions and inwardly and outwardly w1th relation to each other.

11. A braiding machine embodying therein a plurality of rotatable members eachhaviug about the perimeter thereof recesses, the forward and rear walls of which are adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively, means whereby rotary movement is imparted to said members respectively, a plurality of transfer mechanisms carried by each of said membersadjac'e'nt the forward and rear walls 'ofsaicl recesses respectively, means removably connected with carriers and co-operating with said transfer mechanisms respectively, whereby said carri rs may be mounted in relation to said rotatable members, means carried by each of said transfer mechanisms preventing radial movement of. the carriers withrelation to said rotatable member, and means whereby said transfer mechanisms adjacent the forward and the rear walls of said recesses respectively are successively actuated -to cause movement of a carrier from one of said members to the adjacent member, and said carriers are bodilytransported by means of said members and are caused to follow a sinuous course.

12. A braiding machine embodying therein a plurality of'rotatable members each having a plurality of pocketsabout the periphery thereof, the forward and rear walls of which are adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively, jaws pivotally mounted upon said rotatable member adjacent the forward and rear walls of each-of said pockets, and positively acting means operative upon said jaws to successively open them and permit the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member-during a part; of each rotation thereof, or from said member during another part of each rotation thereof, and'to successively close them during-the transfer ofa carrier to the rotatable member and hold them'closed' until the carrier is delivered to an adjacent member, whereby carriers are bodily transported by said rotatable members and are caused to follow a sinuous course.

ing about the perimeter thereof recesses, the forward and rear walls ofwhich are adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively, means whereby rotary movement is to said members respectively, a plurality of transfer mechanisms carrie by each of said members adjacent the'forward and rear walls of saidpockets respectively, means removably connected with carriers and cooperating with said transfer mechanisms respectively, whereby said carriers may be mounted in relation to said rotatable members,'and means whereby said transfer mechanisms adjacent the forward and the'rear walls of said-recessesrespectively-are successively actuated to'cause movement of a carrier from one. of said members to the adjacent member, and said carriers are bodily transported by means of said members and are caused to follow a sinuous course.

14. A braidmg machineembodying therein a plurality of rotatable members each having a plurality of pockets about the periphery thereof the forward and rear walls .of which are adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively, jaws pivotally mounted upon said rotatable member adjacent the forimparted and projecting beyond the periphery of said member, said jaws being arranged in two sets of diametrically opposite pairs, hooked ends upon said jaws respectively, the ends of the jaws of each pair extending respectively towards, and being adapted to project across,

the forward and rear walls of its pocket,

whereby movement ofthe carriers engaged thereby radially of the rotatable member is prevented, means carried by a carrier engageable by said jaws and the hooked ends thereof, and means operative upon said jaws to successively open them and permit the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member during a part of each rotation thereof, or from saidmember during another part of each rotation thereof, and to successively close them during the transfer of a carrier to the rotatable member and hold them closed until the carrier is delivered to-an adjacent member, whereby carriers are bodily transported by said rotatable members and are caused to follow a sinuous course. i 15. A braiding machine embodying thereina plurality ofrotatable members each having a plurality of pockets about the periphery thereof the forward and rear walls of which are adapted to receive and engage a carrier respectively, jaws pivotally mounted upon said rotatable member adjacent the forward and rear walls of each of said pockets and projecting beyond the periphery of said member, said jaws being arranged in two sets of diametrically opposite pairs, 'hooked bnds upon said jaws respectively, the ends (ifthe jawsof each pair extending respectively towards, and being adapted to project across, the forward and rear walls of its pocketwhereby movement of the carriers engaged thereby radially of the rotatable member is the rise and fall of which are so positioned prevented, means carried by a carrier engageable by saidjaws and the hooked ends thereof, a cam operative-upon the jaws of one set,

as to successively open the jaws of that set and permit the transfer of a carrier to a ro- 'other set, the rise and tatable member during a part of each rotation thereof, and from said member during another part of each rotation thereof, and t0 successively close the jaws of each set during the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member and hold them-closed until the carrier is to be delivered to anadjacent'member, and asecond cam operative u on the jaws-of the all of which are So positioned as to successively open the jaws of said set and permit the transfer of a carrier to a rotatable member during a part of each rotation thereof and from sa1d member during another part ofea ch rotation thereof,

and tosuccessively close them durin transfer of a carrier to said member an hold them closed until the carrier is delivered to an adjacent member,

said cams being so set with relation to each carriers are alternately received and delivered with relation to each adjacent rotatable member, whereby alternate carriers are bodily transported by each of said rotatable members in oppositedirections and inwardly and outwardly with relation to each'other.

In witness whereof I have hereunto afiixed my'signature this 8th day of Februar 1926. w I WILLIAM'EC the other that succeeding 

